Pleat-forming device

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a pleater device comprising a base with three spacers affixed to the base, a pleater arm with two spacers rotatably pivoted on an end of the base, said spacers interleafing with the base spacers so that fabric thrust between the spacers is folded into the standard three pleat drapery pattern; a projecting center pleater insures a center fold before the fabric is made to flow and conform to the remaining pleats. The use of low friction materials such as plastics together with molding of all engaging surfaces into curves does not crush or tear sheer fabrics used in residential draperies.

United States Patent Hack I June 17, 1975 [54] PLEAT-FORMING DEVICE2.669.955 2/1954 Gellman ll2/l36 E D M' h. [75] Inventor Vila L Hackast. etroit 1c Primary Emminer Geo v Larkm Asslgnfifii gr" & fif lf MLAttorney, Agent, or Firm-James E Wells emens, 1c

[22] Filed: Oct. 4, 197] [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 186,192 Theinvention discloses a pleater device comprising a base with threespacers affixed to the base, a pleater arm with two spacers rotatablypivoted on an end of the base, said spacers interleafing with the basespac- 58 d l ers so that fabric thrust between the spacers is folded l 1le 0 /28 30 3246 into the standard three pleat drapery pattern; aprojecting center pleater insures a center fold before the 56 R f S C dfabric is made to flow and conform to the remaining l e erence e pleats.The use of low friction materials such as plas- UNITED STATES PATENTStics together with molding of all engaging surfaces into 294,309 2/1884Campbell V. 223/36 curves does not crush or tear sheer fabrics used inres- WCff idential dra erics I,570,0l2 1/1926 Simmons 223/36 X p2,l7l,356 8/1939 Florea 223/33 X 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUN3 7 ms SHEET INVENTOR.

V/L4 L. HQCK PLEAT-FORMING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to improvements in pleatforming devices. Heavy fixedcommercial machines of the type disclosed in the invention of AbrahamGelman, US. Pat. No. 2,669,955 are available and are successful infactory settings but require skilled operators particularly when lightfabrics such as sibonne, voila, batiste, and faille are used. Crushing,tearing or fraying of such materials is not unusual in such commercialmachines.

SUMMARY It is the primary object of the present invention to provide apleat-forming device which will allow the for mation of pleats in lightfabrics without crushing such materials or otherwise abrading thematerials, where unskilled operators in residential settings may use thedevice.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pleat-formingdevice of the above type which will allow repetitive pleating withaccuracy of spacing and intervals between pleats.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pleat-formingdevice of the above type which will facilitate and allow rapid formationof pleats in light drapery fabric while allowing marking the same forsewing or other fastening.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a pleat-formingdevice of the above type which has but a single moving part and capableof simple construction and is easy to use and efficient in operationeven where sheer fabrics are used.

For further objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings,

DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pleating deviceembodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the device showing fabric material in place.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the device showing the fabric being formed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view taken on Line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar referencenumerals identify corresponding parts through the several views, thereis shown pleat-forming device referred to collectively as 10, the base12 has a rear portion 11 and a front portion 13; the base as may be seenfrom the drawings includes three vertical spacers l8, 19, 18 runninglongitudinally with said base. The middle of the three spacers 19projects slightly above its fellow spacers as is shown in a crosssection view, FIG. 2. The pleater arm 14 consists of two spacers 16joined at the top 15 as substantially illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thepleater arm 14 attaches to the base support 12 by means ofa rivet 22 androtates about the base 12 pivoted on the rivet 22 for a purpose whichwill hereinafter become clear. It will be noted that the spacers 16 onthe pleater arm 14 interleaf between the spacers I8 annexed to the base12 and further interleaf with the center spacer so that one spacer I6 ison the side of the center spacer I9 and when the pleater arm 14 isrotated soas to fully engage the base I2, the spacers 16 on the pleaterarm 14 rest in the rounded lower portions 20 on the base 12.

In operation the fabric 24 (shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6)to be pleated is passed intermediately between the pleater arm 14 andthe base 12. The pleater arm 14 is moved downward as shown in FIG. 4 bymoving the pleater arm 14 by hand, providing three pleats in the fabricas is shown in FIG. 5. The manner of removing the material is shown inFIG. 6 where the operator 28 grasps the pleats 26 and then removes thesame with the pleater arm 14 open or closed as the operator may desire.It is noteworthy that the rounded lower portions 20 of the spacers l8and I9 allow free movement of the fabric 24 and the spacers I6, 18 and19 have radii on all terminal edges as well as upon their ends so as toprevent snagging or undue friction with the fabric 24. It should befurther noted that the projection of spacer 19 above the companionspacers 18 allows the center pleat to be formed first and thereforeimposes less strain upon the material than forming all pleats at thesame instant. This feature further uniformly establishes a base line formeasuring intervals between pleats, which in practice has been found torequire an interval of eight inches between said base lines prior topleating. A stitch may be placed in the fabric 24 at the folds 26thereby securing the same after removal or because of the relativelysmall size of the device a stitch may be placed in the pleats 26 in thespace between the ends of the spacers 16, I8 and 19, and the limit ofthe front portion of the base 13 as depicted in FIG. 6.

RESUME In practice it has been found that large foot con trolledmachines tend to tear or sever very light fabrics, particularly wherethe operator is relatively inexperienced. The present inventor has foundthat by constructing the spacers of materials having a low coefficientof friction with respect to contact with light drapery stock and wherethe spacers and all adjoining surfaces are curved surfaces, allowing thedrapery material to move freely between the spacers then tearing,crushing or sheering action will not occur regardless of the deftness ofthe operators touch. The preferred material for construction of thedevice is high density polystyrene, although other plastics of similarphysical characteristics and chromium plated metals will serve equallyas well.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a pleat-formingdevice which may be conveniently placed near a sewing machine and whichwill materially increase the production of pleated draperies by thesewing machine operator in a residential setting.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, itshould be understood that such changes should be in the spirit and scopeof the invention as been defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

1. A pleat-forming device comprising a rectangular base with threeparallel horizontal spacers extending vertically therefrom, said spacersbeing of rectangular configuration, the top of the center spacer beingslightly elevated above the tops of the two outward spacers, a pleaterarm comprised of two connected pivotable parallel spacers, a horizontalpivot compris- 3 ,8 89,85 8 3 4 ing a rivet extending through the reartop corners of the spacer permitting accurate pleat spacing and freethree lower spacers such that when lowered the upper movement of fabricprior to making further pleats spacers interdigitate with the lowerspacers, so that fabtherein. ric to be pleated is first folded over themiddle lower

1. A pleat-forming device comprising a rectangular base with threeparallel horizontal spacers extending vertically therefrom, said spacersbeing of rectangular configuration, the top of the center spacer beingslightly elevated above the tops of the two outward spacers, a pleaterarm comprised of two connected pivotable parallel spacers, a horizontalpivot comprising a rivet extending through the rear top corners of thethree lower spacers such that when lowered the upper spacersinterdigitate with the lower spacers, so that fabric to be pleated isfirst folded over the middle lower spacer permitting accurate pleatspacing and free movement of fabric prior to making further pleatstherein. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE